The City of Toronto is undertaking a review of the Clothing Drop Boxes Bylaw and wants to hear from residents. The aim of the review is to discuss potential improvements to the bylaw to ensure that clothing drop boxes remain safe and maintained.

The public is invited to attend a consultation on Thursday, February 28 from 6 to 8 p.m., in Committee Room 3, Toronto City Hall, 100 Queen St. W.

Feedback may also be sent by email to mlsfeedback@toronto.ca.

Clothing drop boxes play an important role in the city, helping to divert items from landfill and raise money for charity. Under the current bylaw, clothing drop box operators who are not registered as a charitable or not-for-profit organization are required to obtain a clothing drop box licence. Additionally, all clothing drop boxes must display a permit. The City has issued close to 500 clothing drop box permits. A maximum of two clothing drop boxes are allowed per location.

Feedback from this consultation will be used to inform a report to General Government and Licensing Committee in the second quarter of 2019.

To learn more about the review, visit http://ow.ly/SqGe30nItzE.

Toronto is Canada's largest city, the fourth largest in North America, and home to a diverse population of more than 2.9 million people. It is a global centre for business, finance, arts and culture and is consistently ranked one of the world's most livable cities. For information on non-emergency City services and programs, Toronto residents, businesses and visitors can visit http://www.toronto.ca, call 311, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, or follow us on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/cityoftoronto, on Instagram at http://www.instagram.com/cityofto or on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/cityofto.

This news release is also available on the City's website: https://bit.ly/2IvLAqT

City of Toronto Monitoring Electrical Safety Inspection at 240 Wellesley St. E.

February 20, 2019

City of Toronto monitoring electrical safety inspection at 240 Wellesley St. E.

The Electrical Safety Authority (ESA) has advised Toronto Fire Services (TFS) and Municipal Licensing & Standards (MLS) that it will be conducting a residential high-rise electrical safety inspection at 240 Wellesley St. E. on February 21. This inspection is being conducted proactively by the building owner following recent serious incidents at 650 Parliament St. and 260 and 280 Wellesley St. E.

Starting tomorrow at 9 a.m., the building will undergo a physical inspection of its electrical system. During the inspection, power to the building will be completely disconnected. The building will have no electricity, heat, water, or elevator service for a minimum of 24 hours. The building owner advised residents of the upcoming outage on February 15.

During the inspection, the safety of residents and workers is the priority. The building owner has contracted a third-party company to provide bottled water, hot beverages, snacks and assistance to residents throughout the outage as well as conduct inspections in accordance with the building's fire safety plan. As with any outage of this type, Toronto Fire Services will monitor compliance with the fire safety plan. In the event repairs are needed before power can be restored, the ESA will provide direction to the property owner and the property owner will communicate with residents directly.

During the outage, residents are free to use the Wellesley Community Centre located at 495 Sherbourne St. for showers and to charge electronic devices. Information about the community centre is available online at https://bit.ly/2Eked6o or by phone at 416-392-0227.

Fact sheets with important power and water outage information will be distributed to residents and are available on the City's website at https://bit.ly/2GTcAOv. These webpages are available in 51 languages by using the website's translation function.

This news release is also available on the City's website: https://bit.ly/2GBGIPs.

Toronto Paramedic Services' Safe City instructors will teach grade six students fromNorthlea Elementary and Middle School how to perform cardio pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and how to use an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) if they encounter someone suffering a sudden cardiac arrest.

Media will be able to photograph the class practising CPR using a mannequin.

Toronto Paramedic Services' Safe City program trains thousands of residents and some school children annually in first aid, CPR and AED use. Training in advance of a medical emergency can help school-aged children feel more confident to step in, call 911 and to start CPR before the paramedics arrive. Early CPR can give the patient a 75 per cent better chance of survival. Toronto Paramedic Services Safe City program oversees the maintenance and use of over 1,500 public access defibrillators located in city-run community centres, TTC subway stations and some schools.

This event is hosted jointly by the Heart and Stroke Foundation, the Northlea Elementary and Middle School and Toronto Paramedic Services.

Toronto Residents Invited to Provide Input at Special Committee on Governance Meeting

February 15, 2019

Toronto residents invited to provide input at Special Committee on Governance meeting

The City of Toronto's new Special Committee on Governance will hold its first meeting at 9:30 a.m. on February 21, in Committee Room 1 at City Hall.

The Special Committee on Governance was struck by City Council to consider the impacts on the City's governance structure and processes arising from the reduction in the size of Council, and make recommendations to City Council on any further changes to its governance structure.

The public are invited to make a presentation at the meeting or provide written comments in advance of the meeting. The committee is seeking the public's input on whether the reduction in the size of City Council has impacts on, or may have impacts on, the City's governance and suggestions for changes to the City's governance structure, including modernizing governance, following the reduction inthe size of City Council.

The Special Committee, composed of five Council members, will establish a work plan and engagement process that will include public input, review of available research and data, and an evaluation of impacts under the interim structure.

The Special Committee will conduct its proceedings in accordance with Toronto Municipal Code, Chapter 27, Council Procedures. The committee's meetings are open to the public and comply with the Open Meeting Requirements of the City of Toronto Act, 2006. The committee will report to City Council and its mandate would end after making its final recommendations.

Torontonians who want to share their ideas are asked to submit written comments to gvc@toronto.ca or call 416-397-4579 to register to speak. Presentations at committee are limited to five minutes for each presenter.

More information about the Special Committee on Governance is available at http://app.toronto.ca/tmmis/viewAgendaItemHistory.do?item=2019.GV1.2.

This news release is also available on the City's website: http://ow.ly/UYRG30nImaI.

From February 19 to March 7, the westbound lanes of Lake Shore Boulevard East between Cherry and Jarvis Streets will have intermittent overnight rolling lane closures, to allow crews to install access platforms for forthcoming work on the underside of the Gardiner Expressway.

At least one westbound lane will always remain open to reduce the impact on traffic. The intermittent 15-minute rolling lane closures will occur hourly, overnight from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m., except for Friday and Saturday nights. On February 25 and 26 and March 4 and 5, one full lane will be closed from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m., instead of the rolling closures.

While the lane closures are in effect, signs will be posted to support the safe travel of all road users, including pedestrians and cyclists.

After March 7, further lane closures will be required on Lake Shore Boulevard East between Cherry and Jarvis Streets, so crews can continue to install access platforms on the underside of the Gardiner Expressway and conduct other repairs. A series of lane closures is anticipated to continue until December and may take place during the day and/or overnight. The details, timing and impact of this work will be communicated in advance.

The section of the Gardiner Expressway between Jarvis and Cherry Streets is nearing the end of its service life and is the number one priority in the City of Toronto's Gardiner Expressway Strategic Rehabilitation Plan, which addresses the immediate and long-term rehabilitation needs of the expressway to ensure it remains in a safe and operable condition.

The first phase of major rehabilitation work on the eastern Gardiner Expressway will begin this summer and the project is expected to be completed by early 2021. The work will replace the entire concrete deck and steel girders of the expressway between Jarvis and Cherry Streets, replace the eastbound on-ramp at Jarvis Street and the westbound off-ramp at Sherbourne Street, rehabilitate the westbound off-ramp leading to Yonge, Bay and York Streets, as well as make other improvements. The City will provide more details on this work in the spring.

More information about this project and the rolling lane closures is available at https://bit.ly/2I6QQRC. More information about the Gardiner Expressway Strategic Rehabilitation Plan is available at https://bit.ly/2N34oML

Residents and visitors are encouraged to use the City's web-based map, http://www.toronto.ca/roadrestrictions, to help plan their travel. More information about the City's planned capital construction work is available at http://www.toronto.ca/inview.

Toronto is Canada's largest city, the fourth largest in North America, and home to a diverse population of more than 2.9 million people. It is a global centre for business, finance, arts and culture and is consistently ranked one of the world's most livable cities. For information on non-emergency City services and programs, Toronto residents, businesses and visitors can visit http://www.toronto.ca, call 311, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, or follow us on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/cityoftoronto, on Instagram at http://www.instagram.com/cityofto or on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/cityofto.

This news release is also available on the City's website: https://bit.ly/2GrGGcM

The City of Toronto encourages residents to enjoy Family Day on Monday, February 18 by visiting select City indoor and outdoor recreation facilities, historic museums, conservatories, and more. Family Day schedules are available at http://www.toronto.ca/familyday, or by calling 311. Children must be accompanied by an adult for all activities.

Parks and recreationFamily Day programs will be available throughout the city. Residents can enjoy the day with free outdoor and indoor activities including skating, swimming, cooking, drumming, dancing, crafts, board games and family fitness classes.

SkatingThere are 52 outdoor rinks or skating trails to choose from across the city, weather permitting. Many indoor arenas will also be open. There is no charge for public skating at the City's indoor arenas and outdoor rinks. CSA-approved hockey helmets are mandatory for children under the age of six and are recommended for skaters of all ages.

Nathan Phillips Square skating partyFamilies can visit Nathan Phillips Square at City Hall, located at 100 Queen St. W., from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. and on Family Day are also invited to take part in a fun-filled outing from 1 to 4 p.m., sponsored by Tim Hortons, which will feature informal skating instruction and hot beverages at the Tim's House lounge. Skate rentals are available.

Skiing and snowboardingEarl Bales and Centennial Park Ski and Snowboard Centres will be open on Family Day, weather permitting. Updates and schedules are available at http://www.toronto.ca/ski.

SwimmingLeisure swimming will be available at many indoor pools on Family Day. City-run leisure swims are free of charge for everyone.

Recreation programsMultiple recreation facilities will offer free programming for the whole family on Family Day. Children accompanied by an adult can enjoy swimming, indoor/outdoor skating, yoga, Zumba, gymnastics, sports, arts and crafts and much more.

Riverdale FarmThe City's farm at 201 Winchester St., open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., features farm animals and offers various activities. Admission is free.

High Park ZooToronto's oldest animal attraction has been entertaining people for 120 years. The attraction, which houses domestic and exotic animals such as bison, llamas and reindeer, as well as the famous capybaras, Bonnie and Clyde, is located on Deer Pen Road and is open daily from 7 a.m. to dusk. Admission is free.

Conservatories and greenhouses Residents and visitors can warm up and take in the sights and scents at Toronto's conservatories. Both the Allan Gardens and Centennial Park conservatories will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Family Day. Admission is free and the conservatories are wheelchair-accessible.

Recreation CentresSome community recreation centres will be closed on Family Day. Residents can find the list of open centres online at http://www.toronto.ca/familyday or call their local centre ahead of time to check its schedule.

Toronto History MuseumsTwo of the City's Toronto History Museums will be open on Family Day. Programming highlights for those sites are listed below. Admission is free. More information is available at http://www.toronto.ca/museum-events.

Fort York National Historic Site (250 Fort York Blvd.) Fort York will provide hours of family fun in an authentic, historical environment. Activities include face painting, interactive pop-up exhibitions, performances and crafts. Hot chocolate, marshmallows and hourly guided tours of the historic fort are also available.

The Fort and Fort York Visitor Centre will offer a treasure trove of Toronto History Museums' family activities. These include an Irish dance workshop, a dress-up booth, a printing press activity, crafts and interactive exhibits. Visitors can also enjoy works from the Market Gallery's exhibit, "Toronto Through the Eyes of Women Artists".

The Fort's historic buildings are open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. while the Fort York Visitor Centre and The Bentway at Fort York skating trail are open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Scarborough Museum (1007 Brimley Rd.)From noon to 4 p.m. visitors can pose for selfies with historic props, play family board games, build a snowman, join an ice cube scavenger hunt and check out what the blacksmith is making. They are also invited to warm up by the bonfire, roast marshmallows, sample hot chocolate, potato soup and fresh bread.

Winter StationsWinter Stations is an award-winning, annual international design competition and exhibition of temporary public art installations affixed to the lifeguard stands along Ashbridges Bay, east to Balmy Beach. Check out the installations from February 18 through April 1 and find out more about it at https://winterstations.com/.

Black History MonthBlack History Month programming continues Family Day weekend. Residents can learn about the contributions and achievements of Toronto's Black community by participating in events across the city. More information is available at https://www.toronto.ca/explore-enjoy/history-art-culture/black-history-month/.

Toronto ZooThe Toronto Zoo is open 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily, including Family Day. Visitors can participate in Keeper Talks and Carnivore Feedings, take part in the National Hippo Day celebrations, enjoy the winter Orchid Oasis, sign up for the family Owl Prowl, or check out award-winning exhibits, including the Tundra Trek, home to polar bears and arctic wolves. More information about the zoo is available at http://www.torontozoo.com.

Other municipal facilities and servicesAll City of Toronto emergency and 24-hour services will operate as usual on Family Day. City administrative offices and service counters will be closed. The major civic buildings including City Hall, Metro Hall and the civic centres will operate on a weekend schedule from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Family Day.

The TTC will operate on its Holiday service schedule on Family Day. More TTC information is available at http://ttc.ca/Routes/index.jsp.

City-operated child care centres and Children's Services district offices will be closed on Family Day. Toronto Home Child Care Agency providers will offer service as usual.

All Toronto Public Library branches will be closed on Family Day. The Library's digital collection is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week at http://www.tpl.ca/downloads. A list of programs and events for families is available at https://kids.tpl.ca/programs.

Archival Services at 255 Spadina Rd. will also be closed on Family Day.

This news release is also available on the City's website: http://ow.ly/Knjy30nHyiN.

Mayor John Tory proclaimed February 14 Safe City Day in Toronto this morning, accompanied by Toronto Paramedic Services Chief Gord McEachen and Toronto Paramedic Services Safe City Commander Jon Lane. Mayor Tory explained the importance of learning CPR and knowing how to use an automated external defibrillator (AED) to potentially help save lives.

This morning's event also provided the opportunity to launch "You are the Strongest Link," a campaign to raise community awareness that early CPR and early defibrillation can save lives. Toronto Paramedic Services is partnering with Enbridge in providing training to about 240 residents in eight neighbourhoods identified by the Toronto Strong Neighbourhood Strategy 2020.

Funding received by Enbridge through the Toronto Strong Neighbourhoods Strategy 2020 will go toward training and certifying residents through the Toronto Paramedic Services Safe City program. The skills acquired through the training will enable people to apply for jobs that require the certification and may also help them save a life.

TSNS 2020 is the City’s action plan for ensuring that each of the 140 neighbourhoods can succeed and thrive. The strategy supports healthy communities across Toronto by partnering with residents, community agencies and businesses to invest in people, services, programs and facilities in 31 Neighbourhood Improvement Areas.

Toronto Paramedic Services Safe City program trains thousands of residents annually in first aid, CPR and AED use. Taking a course allows people to have the confidence in their skill to intervene if they see someone suffering a sudden cardiac arrest. It could mean the difference between life and death. Every year lives are saved in the city because someone had the courage to step in to help.

You can register for a course at http://www.toronto.ca/safecity, by calling 416-392-9833 or by emailing safecity@toronto.ca.

Quotes:

"With more than 2,000 cardiac arrests annually in our city, more than half of them witnessed by a bystander, and knowing that early CPR and the use of an AED can increase the chance of survival up to 75 per cent, I want to encourage all our residents to take a CPR/AED course."- Mayor John Tory

"Our paramedics arrive quickly and our Emergency Medical Dispatchers are trained to coach a 911 caller in performing CPR on a patient while waiting for the paramedics to take over. It can be a life-saving act and we encourage everyone in the City of Toronto to realize that they are the strongest link in the chain of survival."- Chief Gord McEachen

"Programs like You are the Strongest Link help the City further complete some of the actions identified by our resident leaders and other community partners who participate in Toronto Strong Neighbourhoods Strategy 2020. The mission of TSNS 2020 is to activate people, resources and neighbourhood-friendly policies. Our goal is to connect residents to quality jobs by improving career opportunities for youth through City and private sector collaborations, like this one with Enbridge, and train them for quality jobs by providing job readiness training for youth who have not been employed before."- John Smith, Community Development Manager, City of Toronto

"Enbridge is proud to support Toronto's Paramedic Services who share in our commitment to keep this city safe. The safety of the people who live and work beside us remains our highest priority."- Malinin Giridhar, Vice-President Business Development and Regulatory, Enbridge Gas Inc.

About Enbridge Gas Inc.Enbridge Gas Inc. is Canada’s largest natural gas storage, transmission and distribution company based in Ontario with a more than 170 year history of providing safe and reliable service to customers. The distribution business serves about 3.5 million customers, heating over 75 per cent of Ontario homes. The storage and transmission business offers a variety of storage and transportation services to customers at the Dawn Hub, the largest integrated underground storage facility in Canada and one of the largest in North America. Owned by Enbridge Inc., a Canadian-based leader in energy transportation and distribution, Enbridge Gas Inc. is the amalgamation of Union Gas Limited and Enbridge Gas Distribution Inc. and contributes over $4M a year to support charitable and not for profit organizations in the communities it serves.

This news release is also available on the City's website: https://bit.ly/2X0iFOR

The international bond credit rating firm Moody's Investors Service released a report this week reaffirming the City of Toronto's credit rating of Aa1 with a stable outlook. An Aa1 rating is one level below Moody’s highest rating of Aaa.

The rating was based on Toronto’s large, diversified economy and broad tax base, continued strong year-end operating results, sound governance and prudent fiscal planning, as well as a healthy liquidity profile. The stable rating outlook reflects the firm’s view that the City will continue to show strong operating outcomes and maintain high debt affordability.

Moody’s report also acknowledges challenges faced by the City, such as a backlog of deferred capital spending and a growing population combined with limited revenue growth. However, it notes that the City’s debt burden is comparable to highly rated Canadian and international municipal peers.

Quotes

"Toronto is the economic engine for Ontario and Canada and an important participant in global markets. This rating is a testament to our sensible financial stewardship. It also demonstrates our continued financial stability and why it is so important that we stay the course on our responsible budgeting for the good of our city and our residents."- Toronto Mayor John Tory

"The City of Toronto has continued to invest in services that are important to residents while making prudent decisions for long-term financial health."- Councillor Gary Crawford (Ward 20 Scarborough Southwest), Budget Committee Chair

Toronto is Canada's largest city, the fourth largest in North America, and home to a diverse population of more than 2.9 million people. It is a global centre for business, finance, arts and culture and is consistently ranked one of the world's most livable cities. For information on non-emergency City services and programs, Toronto residents, businesses and visitors can visit http://www.toronto.ca, call 311, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, or follow us on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/cityoftoronto, on Instagram at http://www.instagram.com/cityofto or on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/cityofto.

This news release is also available on the City's website: https://bit.ly/2GJlVZu

Mayor John Tory and Toronto Paramedic Services Chief Gord McEachen will declare February 14 Safe City Day in Toronto as part of Heart Month. This event will also launch the "You are the Strongest Link" campaign. Toronto Paramedic Services is partnering with Enbridge to provide training in CPR and defibrillation for priority neighbourhoods.

Date: Thursday, February 14Times: 9:45 to 10 a.m.: Camera operators will have an opportunity to film/photograph Mayor Tory practising cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on a mannequin, instructed by a paramedic.10 to 10:30 a.m.: Official remarksLocation: Rotunda, Toronto City Hall, 100 Queen St. W.

This event will also provide an opportunity to film/photograph paramedics teachingattendees how to use an automated external defibrillator (AED).

Toronto Paramedic Services responds to more than 2,000 cardiac arrests annually. It is possible more lives could be saved if more bystanders were to step up and start CPR and/or use the life-saving AEDs before paramedics arrive at the scene.

Environment Canada has issued a winter storm warning for Toronto today with the possibility of 15 cm of snow, as well as ice pellets, freezing rain and strong winds.

Following the winter storm warning and Toronto District School Board (TDSB) and Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB) school closures, child care programs including before- and after-school child care, After-School Recreation Care (ARC) and Community Leadership After-School Programs located in schools and community centres are cancelled today.

Indoor recreation and aquatic programs at all facilities will be cancelled as of noon today, however community centres will remain open for permits. All other recreation programs at school locations are cancelled today following the TDSB and TCDSB school closures.

Outdoor recreation programs and lessons, including ski, snowboard and skate, are cancelled today. The City's ski and snowboard centres will be closed. Outdoor ice rinks will remain open pending ice conditions, but will be unsupervised. Live rink status updates are available on the City's website at https://www.toronto.ca/data/parks/prd/facilities/outdoor-rinks/index.html. All permits at City rinks are cancelled and rink clubhouses and fieldhouses will be closed.

In addition, EarlyON programs located in schools are also cancelled today.

Parents are asked to check with their child care program or with their local school board for updates tomorrow morning.

Contacting the City and other agencies Residents are reminded that 911 is for emergencies only, including downed powerlines. For all other incidents where police are required, call 416-808-2222.

For further updates, follow @cityoftoronto on Twitter.

For the most up-to-date weather information, visit Environment Canada’s website at http://www.weather.gc.ca.

Based on information from Environment Canada, Dr. Eileen de Villa, Toronto's Medical Officer of Health, has issued an Extreme Cold Weather Alert today for Toronto that will be in effect until further notice. Extreme Cold Weather Alerts are issued when the temperature in the daily forecast is estimated to reach approximately -15 degrees Celsius or colder, or when the wind chill is forecast to reach -20 or colder.

Exposure to cold weather can be harmful to your health. Hypothermia occurswhen the body's core temperature drops below 35 degrees Celsius and can have severe consequences, including organ failure and death. Frostbite can also occur in cold weather when skin freezes and, in severe cases, can lead to amputation when deeper tissues freeze.

Those most at risk of cold-related illness are people experiencing homelessness or those under-housed, those who work outdoors, people with a pre-existing heart condition or respiratory illness, elderly people, infants and young children. People with heart problems can experience worsening of their condition up to several days after cold weather occurs.

Extreme Cold Weather Alerts activate local services that focus on getting and keeping vulnerable residents inside. A warming centre is open at Metro Hall by 7 p.m. the day an alert is called, and remains open continuously until noon on the day an alert is terminated. Other services include notification to community agencies to relax any service restrictions, availability of transit tokens in some drop-ins, and additional overnight street outreach.

Throughout the year, 24-hour respite sites provide meals, places to rest, and service referrals at locations across the city. People can call 311 for locations and to connect to Central Intake for a referral. Homeless Help lists site information at http://www.toronto.ca/homelesshelp.

The City asks that residents help vulnerable people by calling 311 if there is a need for street outreach assistance. Call 911 if the situation is an emergency.

During an Extreme Cold Weather Alert, members of the public are encouraged to take the following precautions: • Check the weather report before going outside.• Dress in layers, making sure your outer layer is windproof, and cover exposed skin.• Wear a hat, warm mittens or gloves, and warm boots. • Stay dry. Your risk of hypothermia is much greater if you are wet.• Choose wool or synthetic fabrics for your clothes instead of cotton, because cotton absorbs and holds moisture, no longer keeping the wearer warm. • Seek shelter if you normally spend long periods outside. Depending on the wind chill, exposed skin can freeze in minutes. • Drink warm fluids other than alcohol. • Warm up by taking regular breaks in heated buildings when enjoying winter activities outside. • Consider rescheduling outdoor activities, or limiting time outdoors, during colder temperatures, especially if it's windy. • Heat your home to at least 21 degrees Celsius if infants or elderly people are present.• Call or visit vulnerable friends, neighbours and family to ensure they are not experiencing any difficulties related to the weather.

More information and tips for staying warm during cold weather are available at https://www.toronto.ca/community-people/health-wellness-care/health-programs-advice/extreme-cold-weather/.

Information to help residents prepare for extreme weather and weatherproof their homes is available at https://www.toronto.ca/extremeweatherready.

Special Citizenship Ceremony to be Held in Scarborough in Honour of National Flag of Canada Day

Special citizenship ceremony to be held in Scarborough in honour of National Flag of Canada Day

Scarborough, ON – On behalf of the Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, the Honourable Bill Blair, Minister of Border Security and Organized Crime Reduction and Member of Parliament for Scarborough Southwest, will welcome 81 new citizens at a special citizenshipceremony at the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada office in Scarborough.

On February 15, 1965, our national flag was raised for the first time on Parliament Hill. The National Flag of Canada is celebrating its 54th anniversary. The maple leaf has become our country’s most visible symbol, identifying Canada and Canadians to the world. This week, many special citizenship ceremonies will be taking place in honour of National Flag of Canada Day.

Environment Canada has issued a special weather statement for a winter storm tomorrow with the possibility of 15 to 20 cm of snow, as well as ice pellets, freezing rain and strong winds. The City of Toronto has a comprehensive snow and ice response plan that prioritizes the safety and movement of residents. Toronto is a vibrant city with more than 5,600 kilometre of roads and 2.9 million people.

Proactive measures taken before the storm include: • monitoring road temperature using sensors on salt trucks and pickup trucks• co-ordinating more frequent access to weather forecasting and meteorologists• activating nine road weather information system stations, including two new stations in East York and one in the York-Yonge-Bay ramp, and• preparing for winter by maintaining roads, performing on-going pothole repair blitzes, replenishing salt and de-icer supplies, attending training and seeking new ways to address snow.

During the storm, winter operations include:• de-icing, salting, plowing and snow removal as required• daily staff conference calls coordinate snow clearing efforts• GPS on plows power the PlowTO web app at https://www.Toronto.ca/plowTO• a fixed automated spray technology de-icing system on the York-Bay-Yonge ramp to help keep emergency vehicles and commuters safe• access to salt additives like beet juice that melt ice faster when temperatures are frigid, and• real-time cameras to see actual conditions on key streets to inform operations.

After the storm:• Crews work around-the-clock to clean-up the remaining snow and ice on city streets, sidewalks, bike trails, laneways, and more.• Staff respond to resident requests through 311.• Staff continue to coordinate cleanup efforts via conference calls.• Services delivered are reviewed to inform future improvements.

Service LevelsThe following are the City's winter operation service levels: • Anti-Icing – Salt brine is applied to expressways, hills and bridges up to 24 hours before snow falls.• Salting – When the snow begins to stick, expressways, major and local roads are salted and must be completed on all serviced roads between one and 24 hours from the end of snowfall.• Plowing – Expressways are plowed first at 2 cm of snow accumulation (within two to three hours). Major roads are plowed at 5 cm of accumulation (within six to eight hours). Collector roads are plowed between 5 and 8 cm of accumulation (within 14 to 16 hours). Local road plowing starts when accumulation has reached 8 cm and the snow has substantially stopped falling.• Windrow opening – For areas where it is mechanically feasible (not in the central core), driveway entrances are cleared to an opening of three metres within two hours following the end of road plowing.• Sidewalk and transit stop clearing – High pedestrian volume areas are cleared first, starting after 2 cm of accumulation. After the snow has stopped falling, sidewalks can take six to seven hours to be cleared and transit stops can take up to 48 hours to be cleared.• Cycling routes – Salting begins on cycling routes at the same time as salting on the adjacent road. Plowing is completed after 5 cm of accumulation.• Seniors and persons with disabilities – In areas of the city where mechanical sidewalk snow clearing is not feasible the City offers a free snow-shovelling service for those in need.

Business and property owners are responsible for ensuring that all ice and snow are cleared from sidewalks, driveways, parking spaces, steps, ramps and landings within 24 hours of snowfall to provide safe access for people and vehicles. The City will clear snow from sidewalks within 12 hours of snowfall, where it is possible to safely drive a plow. Property owners who fail to clear their snow and ice could be subject to a fine. More information is available at https://www.toronto.ca/services-payments/streets-parking-transportation/road-maintenance/winter-maintenance/clearing-snow-and-ice-from-your-property/.

Autos that block streetcar tracks or impede emergency vehicles will be tagged and towed at the owner's expense. Blocking streetcar tracks can inconvenience thousands of commuters and put at risk the safety of others in an emergency.

Emergency preparedness The combination of snow, ice pellets, freezing rain and strong winds may create hazardous conditions and cause power disruptions. Residents and businesses are encouraged to take precautionary steps to protect their property and ensure their safety. During severe weather, the public are reminded to:• Try to keep children and pets indoors. • Stay away from rivers and streams and from downed wires and trees that may have an electrical charge.• Take public transport and avoid driving if possible. If it is necessary to drive, do so cautiously and slowly. Keep the vehicle's gas tank at least half full at all times. • Offer to help elderly neighbours or those individuals who may need assistance. • Pick up critical medications before the storm.

More information about emergency preparedness, including how to pack an emergency kit and go bag, is available at https://www.toronto.ca/community-people/public-safety-alerts/emergency-preparedness/.

Assistance for vulnerable peopleThe City asks that residents help vulnerable people by calling 311 if there is a need for street outreach assistance, 911 if the situation is an emergency.

The declaration of an Extreme Cold Weather Alert activates additional City services that focus on getting and keeping vulnerable residents inside. A warming centre is opened at Metro Hall by 7 p.m. the day an alert is called, and remains open continuously until noon on the day an alert is terminated. Pets are welcome. Service restrictions at shelters are also relaxed and additional overnight street outreach teams are deployed.

More information about 24-hour respite sites, shelters, housing help, drop-ins and Out of the Cold programs is available at http://toronto.ca/homelesshelp.

Basement flooding and frozen pipesWith possible rain and snow accumulation, residents are encouraged to do the following to prevent basement flooding:• Shovel the snow and ice away from the foundation and onto a lawn, not the road.• Ensure eavestroughs and downspouts are clear of snow, ice and other debris and are working properly.• If it is safe to do so, clear debris from roadside catch basins to help melting snow and rain enter the storm sewer.

During cold winter weather, water pipes can freeze. Property owners are encouraged to take steps to protect pipes from freezing and learn what to do if they freeze, at http://www.toronto.ca/frozenpipes.

Power outagesPower outages can be reported to Toronto Hydro at 416-542-8000. Toronto Hydro will work to restore power as quickly as possible.

During an outage, residents are reminded to follow these safety precautions:• Unplug or turn off all appliances to avoid possible damage when power resumes.• Don’t use barbecues, propane heaters or portable generators indoors or in enclosed spaces such as garages, covered porches and sheds – they generate carbon monoxide gas, which can be fatal.• Never leave candles unattended. Use a flashlight instead. • If electricity is restored to your area, but your home still does not have power, call Toronto Hydro at 416-542-800 (press 1) to speak with a dispatcher.• Plug in only the most essential appliances first, and wait 10 to 15 minutes to give the electrical system time to stabilize before connecting other items.

After power is restored, the public should limit electricity use to help relieve potential strain on the system by these measures: • Turn off all non-essential internal and external lights.• Limit the use of major power-consuming equipment such as dishwashers, washers and dryers.

Contacting the City and other agencies Residents are reminded that 911 is for emergencies only, including downed power lines. For all other incidents where police are required, call 416-808-2222.

Residents are asked not to call 311 to ask when their street will be plowed. Local roads are plowed 14 to 16 hours after snowfall is over. To watch plows working in real time visit http://www.toronto.ca/plowTO.

Staff are available at 311 Toronto, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to respond to City-related inquiries and service requests, including non-working traffic signals, other road and sidewalk problems, as well as damaged trees on City property. To contact 311 Toronto Dial 3-1-1, email 311@toronto.ca or visit http://www.toronto.ca/311.

For damaged trees on private property, residents should contact a private tree service company.

For updates during an emergency event and other City information, follow @cityoftoronto on Twitter. For updates on winter operations follow @TO_WinterOps on Twitter.

For the most up-to-date weather information, visit Environment Canada’s website at https://weather.gc.ca/.

The City of Toronto has contacted all of the nearly 3,000 registrants and permit holders who were affected by the fire last week at the Agincourt Community Recreation Centre, providing them with relocation options at seven City recreation centres and three Toronto District School Board (TDSB) locations in Scarborough.

This includes more than 1,800 aquatic registrants and 1,000 people registered in skating and active living programs like visual arts, guitar and yoga. Approximately 11 per cent of the registrants have chosen to be credited for their programs instead of being relocated. More than 900 registrants still have to respond on their choice of relocation or receiving a credit.

The majority of relocated programs are taking place the same day and time as the original programs in the Agincourt Community Recreation Centre, with minor schedule adjustments if needed. Drop-in programs at the seven nearby City recreation centre locations have been shifted slightly to accommodate the extra instructional programs. The TDSB locations have been provided at no additional cost to the City. Centre fitness and swim passes are being honoured at other City recreation centres.

The 14 hockey leagues and associations using the Centre have been accommodated at other Scarborough locations or have used ice time already booked at other locations. City staff continue to work on relocation options with the remaining permit holders. Information about recreation program options for affected residents is available by calling 416-396-7378 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. or by calling 311.

As a result of the fire, the entire centre is closed until further notice. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Once the investigation is completed, planning for repairs and reconstruction will begin.

The Agincourt Community Recreation Centre fitness facilities include an indoor swimming pool and two indoor ice rinks. The centre offers more than 400 courses with additional drop-in programs.

Quotes

"I would like to thank all the City staff involved for their incredible efforts to immediately provide recreation spaces for those affected by the fire and to also acknowledge the TDSB's cooperation in helping us access the additional spaces required."- Toronto Mayor John Tory

"The massive response of City staff and others to the fire shows clearly why the word community is an important part of the Agincourt Community Recreation Centre name."- Councillor Cynthia Lai, Ward 23 Scarborough North

Toronto is Canada's largest city, the fourth largest in North America, and home to a diverse population of more than 2.9 million people. It is a global centre for business, finance, arts and culture and is consistently ranked one of the world's most livable cities. For information on non-emergency City services and programs, Toronto residents, businesses and visitors can visit http://www.toronto.ca, call 311, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, or follow us on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/cityoftoronto, on Instagram at http://www.instagram.com/cityofto or on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/cityofto.

This news release is also available on the City's website: https://bit.ly/2UMUcum

Council Highlights is a summary of a selection of the decisions that Toronto City Council made at its recent business meeting. The City Clerk's full, official documentation is available at http://www.toronto.ca/council.

Housing Now Council approved the Housing Now plan, which is designed to increase the supply of new affordable rental housing in mixed-income communities by making municipally-owned properties available to non-profit and private organizations. The first phase of Housing Now is expected to deliver about 10,000 new residential homes, including up to 3,700 affordable rental homes with average rents not to exceed 80 per cent of Toronto's average market rent.

Supportive housing in Toronto After discussion and debate, Council voted to have staff convene an urgent meeting with key providers of supportive housing in Toronto to identify ways to increase supportive-housing options that will help people exit homelessness. In addition, Council will ask the federal and provincial governments to commit funding to support the annual creation of 1,800 new units of supportive housing in Toronto to help reduce homelessness.

Expanding supportive housing and services Council agreed to request a report from staff on options for an aggressive plan for building supportive and transitional housing in Toronto. Among other components of the adopted motion is a request for a report describing current mental health and addiction supports available in Toronto's emergency shelters, respites and transitional housing, and identifying opportunities to expand those kinds of support services.

Cycle tracks on Richmond and AdelaideCouncil supported making cycle tracks on Richmond and Adelaide Streets permanent, as well as the cycle tracks on Peter and Simcoe Streets. The cycle tracks (separated bike lanes) were installed between 2014 and 2016. The Richmond-Adelaide cycle tracks are the most heavily used in Toronto. During the pilot, the rate of cyclist collisions decreased by 73 per cent and serious motor vehicle collisions decreased by 18 per cent on Richmond and Adelaide, which are key commuter arteries downtown.

Planning heat relief services for 2019 Council provided direction to staff regarding the City's co-ordinated implementation of heat relief strategies for 2019. A work plan to be developed will include the creation of a bylaw requiring property owners to maintain an up-to-date list that can be used to contact building tenants in extreme weather emergencies. Working with Municipal Licensing and Standards, the work group will consider also consider asking landlords to provide a "cool room" and/or a shade structure on their properties.

St. Jamestown highrise buildingsA motion that Council adopted calls for a review and report on the City's emergency response to the recent electrical power outage at 260 Wellesley St. E.and last year's fire-related evacuation at 650 Parliament St. The motion includes a request for a review of building evaluations under the RentSafeTO audit program to make sure there are appropriate building and life-safety audits of all St. Jamestown residential towers.

Accelerating the Tenants First projectCouncil adopted a motion calling for steps to be taken to accelerate the City's Tenants First project, an initiative that would see Toronto Community Housing's seniors housing units managed under a new model that partners with health service institutions to provide services for seniors to age comfortably in place. This approach will allow better service to be provided to seniors while enabling Toronto Community Housing to focus on other tenants, including families and vulnerable persons.

Legal challenge to Bill 5Council gave instructions to the City Solicitor pertaining to legal matters involving the Ontario government's Bill 5, the Better Local Government Act, 2018. That legislation included reducing Toronto's electoral wards to 25 for the 2018 municipal election. The province's appeal of a related Superior Court decision is scheduled to be heard by the Ontario Court of Appeal this June. Council's instructions to the City Solicitor include opposing the province's appeal at the June hearing.

Potential impacts of Ontario’s Bill 66Council adopted a motion to express Council's opposition to several of the schedules that are components of the Ontario government's Bill 66, the Restoring Ontario's Competitiveness Act. The proposed legislation has significant interest for Toronto and other municipal governments.

Potential acquisition of Hearn Generating StationCouncil adopted a motion for the City to initiate negotiations to buy the decommissioned, now privately owned, Hearn Generating Station site in the Port Lands. The City's plans for transforming the Port Lands have identified the site for a major public park and include re-use of the Hearn building for community purposes. Previous owner Ontario Power Generation sold the site last year. Council also directed staff to pursue heritage designation of the site.

Governance of Toronto Parking AuthorityCouncil adopted a recommendation for the recruitment of a new Board of Directors for the Toronto Parking Authority, the City agency that manages parking and the Bike Share program in Toronto. The board, with two members of Council and five public members, will put into place new governance policies and procedures once the board is appointed by Council.

Street parking on New Year's EveCouncil adopted a motion calling for a report on the feasibility of allowing a grace period for street-parking violations (officially "Park in Permit Parking Location without a Valid Permit") between 10 p.m. on December 31 and 10 a.m. on January 1 each year.

Advisory committee for Toronto IslandsA motion for Council to continue its Toronto Islands Advisory Committee during the current term of Council was adopted. The advisory committee, initially created in 2014, has focused on strategic planning for the islands as Toronto's centrepiece park, with the goal of enhancing the islands attractiveness as an accessible, year-round destination.

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Volume 23 Issue 1Council Highlights, a summary of selected decisions made by Toronto City Council, is produced by Strategic Communications. Formal documentation of City Council decisions: http://www.toronto.ca/council Questions about Council meetings and decisions: clerk@toronto.ca or 416-392-8016 Information about distribution of this summary: stratcom@toronto.ca Previous editions: https://bit.ly/2EaDe5G